This is such a lovely and happy book! I loved reading it and it made me happy and lighthearted.
I loved the characters and as a massive bookworm it would be a dream come true if one of my book boyfriends came to life. Killian is such a sweetheart and I like how Killian and Leighton build their relationship. It’s so mature and well thought out way.
The plot is comforting and surprising because things didn’t quite go as I expected.
Overall, this was a comfort read that simply make you happy. Nothing dark or heavy involved! I loved it!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to ARC read It started with a book!!

This is the perfect read for anyone who wished their book boyfriends were real. With a touch of magic, Leigh is transported into her books and slowly starts to fall for her perfect man. The catch is... he's fictional.

Leigh Witherspoon is sick of dating apps and blind dates that Ghost her after the third date. Especially when she's the only single one left in her friend group. She's turning more to her books for romance these days and when she finds a cowboy romance with the cover missing she gives it a try. But falling asleep reading gives her the best book boyfriend she's ever had when her dreams feel all to real. Soon she's ignoring her real life for her dream world... until her cowboy somehow follows her home.
This is a quirky mostly clean romance that we all wish we could experience. Of course, since Killian is the romantic hero of the story, he knows all the best things to say and is completely devoted to her. Helping him fit into "real life" created many hilarious scenarios. I liked this cute story with a truly original plotline.

This was such a fun book! Normally I am not much one for this specific genre and like "speed" of writing, but I enjoyed this very much. The way the book boyfriend became real, is a dream come true for all bookreaders, enemies to lovers added into the mix makes it even better. Plus, with that small hint of magic it was just really fun!

“He’s becoming less of a fabricated romance hero and more of a man I could really give my heart to every day.”

I’ll be honest, I grabbed It Started With A Book only because of the title. I didn’t even read the synopsis. I just love books about books. And what a surprise it was!
I truly loved how the author lists all the codes of romance books and twists them in this story. What if the best book-boyfriend you could dream about became real? That’s what happens to Leighton when she starts to write inside the pages of a mysterious book, crafting Killian who will –little by little– become real.
This is such an incredible idea, and this book is super simple and fast to read. Not only it is entertaining, but it explores the differences between book-fantasy and real life, in a very funny way, and mocks tenderly –while remaining respectful– the codes of romance. I truly loved that very different book. However, I wish Killian’s entering into the world was a bit more explained (a link with Leighton’s word would have been so much fun). But despite that, it was one of my favourite romances last summer.
If you love romance, if you’ve always dreamed that your book boyfriend was real, if lately you have the impression of always reading the same book, then I’m pretty sure you’ll have a great time with this fun story!


Thank you NetGalley, Boldwood books and Camillia Isley for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

Rate: 4.5/5

this was unfortunately a miss for me. the writing felt very amateur-ish which was a surprise knowing this author has a very extensive backlist. the premise was interesting but the way it was executed meant we got little to no relationship development. very meh experience overall.

If I had finished this book just a few days sooner it would have been part of a different review, but I finished it now, so the review is going to be the way it is.

I picked this book because I surprisingly enjoyed another book by the author with a topic I usually do not enjoy. This book was something similar, with a plot that I’ve read one or two times before and was not blown away by.

Unfortunately, even with the good writing as the overall growth ARC of the central protagonist, I didn’t love this as much as the other work.

Leighton is a computer engineer specialising in AI ( there was no call back to this with regards to the plot itself, although I kept thinking something would happen) as well as a book lover. She finds a book one lonely evening and finds herself dreaming herself into it. Soon things get a little crazy and unbelievable, but matters clarify themselves soon enough.

There is no explanation for the unexplained, which works in one way but felt like a loophole in the other. I would recommend the author to fans of the romance genre. This book was a fun read but not one that I would recommend highly.

I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience of this and one other book by the author.

A romcom for the ages that truly brings about a fantasy that we've all thought of at least once or twice - bringing our books (and its characters) to life. This was well written and made for an entertaining romcom that should be turned into a movie. It's giving early 00s romcom and I love it.

Fun and fluffy, this was such a great comfort read. Reminded me more of the last Ashley Poston than the authors listed, from the romance book becoming real plot, a new genre I am very much on board with!

I really enjoyed this book. Pure magical escapism in book form. It read more like a movie story and would be a great film. In the same way, there was a strong focus on the main couple with the supporting characters being not as noticeable. An enjoyable book

Forever the single person amongst the couples, Leighton turns to books for her romance. Until one day she finds a mysterious book on her shelves and starts to read. The hot billionaire cowboy in the story is her perfect man but the story abruptly runs out as she’s reading, and the rest of the book is empty. Then she falls asleep and finds herself in the story! Every time she wakes up, the book has noted down her dreams. Until one day she falls into the lake and wakes up drenched and with the cowboy in the bed next to her!

Now she’s stuck with her fantasy man but he’s no idea how to interact with the real world. Will love (and lust) prevail?

It’s a sweet story and I know in romcoms you have to suspend belief, but this was a stretch too far for me unfortunately. I’m usually a big fan of Camilla Isley but this one just felt too much like magical realism with a sickly sweet romance added, and it just wasn’t for me. If you like your romances super saccharine and with virtually no spice though, then this is the one for you. 3.25/5

I hereby crown Camilla Isley the queen of sweet romcoms! This was a fun, easy read with a good dose of magic & imagination. Perfect for a quick escape ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Fantastic. Such a great read, and utterly unique. As soon as I heard the premise I wanted to devour it. No disappointment here! Isley is fast becoming one of my favourite authors and the cover is just *chef's kiss*

The plot can feel repetitive at times, especially as it plays with familiar romance tropes without adding much depth. While the chemistry between Leigh and Killian is sweet, it sometimes feels too predictable, and the supporting characters, like Leigh’s friends and coworkers, don’t stand out as much as they could.

Despite these shortcomings, It Started with a Book is an enjoyable, escapist read for anyone looking for a playful romantic comedy. It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s a cozy, feel-good story for fans of the genre.

It started with a Book has a really cute premise! The bookish female lead is frustrated with the dating scene near her. She turns to books instead, only to find that the romance in that is far more real than she anticipated...

I have loved books with this premise, like Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle or more recently, A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston. For whatever reason, I struggled to get into this one and ended up DNFing at 40%. The story was progressing too slowly for me, and the lead didn't feel relatable to me. But I know many others have enjoyed this, so don't let that stop you from giving it a try!

While this story was at times pretty funny, overall it was just a little too fantastical for me. The idea of her fictional character coming to life out of a book was just weird. I thought she was going to meet the guy in real life and he was maybe just going to be a city slicker instead and they would fall in love, but the fact it's a fake person coming to life and needing to get a ssn and birth certificate was fucking wild lol.

I couldn't get behind it and if it wasn't for the banter I probably would have dnf'd this one. K

ARC Review:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Have you ever read a book and thought the MMC would make the perfect boyfriend? Then Camilla Isley’s It Started With a Book is the ideal rom-com for you!

Leighton hasn’t been lucky in love or life. After being ghosted by her latest tinder date the last thing she wants is to be pitied by all of her ‘coupled up’ friends and family. Deciding to switch her focus back to her studies, the only romance she will be getting from this point on lies between the spines of books. But when fiction starts to blur with reality, she discovers sometimes love does come when you least expect it.

I have never been a huge fan of magical realism or fantasy. However, Isley just opened my eyes to how fun this sub genre can be. I loved suspending reality (even further) and jumping in head first as Leighton navigated love with a fictional character.

This was a fun, addictive read. I highly recommend picking it up if you enjoy:
- every romance trope ever written
-closed door/ fade to black
- dreamy MMC
-magical realism

*I am making an official request for Camilla Isley to turn this into a series of some sort. I don’t care if it follows only Leighton and Killian or some combination of side characters. I need more of this fun saga.

Special thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood Books, and Camilla Isley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Ever wondered how your book boyfriend came from the book world and into your bed? Naked?

No well neither did this book.

Honestly it was an Okay book. Cheesy but just OK, usually with these types of books there is a reasoning behind it. This just happened and nothing made sense.

Where did the book come from?
How did she join into the story?
How did he get out of the book?

Lots of questions and very few (none) answers.

I'm left more baffled than satisfied.
Also overly cheesy writing where they just talked in booking tropes which was irritating

I wanted to love this book because the premise was so ridiculous and unique that I was excited to see how it would go. However, I had a really hard time getting into this book and I had a hard time wanting to continue picking it back up.

For the first 35% I felt like I was getting tiny tidbits of the love story that I was supposed to be falling for and for the rest of the book it felt too insta love because I didn’t feel connected to the MMC or the couple at all.

I appreciate the opportunity to read this ARC but it just wasn’t for me. Give it a try a decide for yourself ◡̈

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this E-Arc for an honest review!
(I know I”m late to the party…life was and has been extremely busy!)

I could not stop reading this and I was smiling the entire time while reading. The story felt warm, fun, sweet, and had me giggling at the banter between Leigh and Killian. Gosh!

I thought Killian’s nickname for Leigh was so adorable! This is a super cute, fast, fun read. It was a nice take me away from reality to see what happens with Leigh and Killian. Who doesn’t like reading stories like this?

One thing I want to point out, there were a few parts in the story that could use some polishing but would it change the whole vibe?

I will say I liked how the author was working up to the steamy bits and then fades to black. It reminds me of those movies that would do this and your imagination would wander.

I will say the book did make fun of book tropes in it which was hilarious. Just to name a few: cinnamon roll, the lean and more.

I liked what the author wrote and looking forward to reading more from this author.